After a first brief overview of the text it seems to be obvious that the manuscript is based on Salvator Fabris and the side and foot notes are done by a student or a different master and should give hints how the text should be understood. So this manual could be one of the best latest finds.

The manuscript consists of 53 paper pages (3 single pages followed by 12 bifolia) sewn together in a single gathering with three wide (app. 50mm length) stitches. The bastard title is made out of 2 sheets of rough cardboard with the texture of blotting paper. It is clotted together with scotch tape made of paper.

The bastard title contains four different titles:

in the top left corner: "Scherma" (pencil writing - modern handwriting)

below the top left corner title: "Fechtkunst in Italien...." (black ink maybe from the 19th or 20th century)

The manuscript is the work of at least three unknown scribes: one is the primary scribe who wrote the treatise itself, while the other two are annotators who made only marginal notes. One of the annotators wrote with a pencil and only made minor notes on the side of the pages, while the other one used ink and sometimes made major changes in the manuscript. The primary scribe started his writing approximately 50 mm inside of the left edge, but continued until the very last millimeter of the right side. This brings up some problems in reading the verso side because some lines disappear into the folding of the manuscript.

A watermark is available once on each sheet, which means it is only to be seen on the first half of the manuscript. The sign looks like a heraldic shield with some kind of castle on top of it and a diamond patterned section in the top right and bottom left corner of the shield.

All in all, the manuscript is in a fair shape. The edges do look like mice had some fun with it, but the paper is in a good condition and far from being rotten.

Additional Image Note: The Fürstliche Sammlung des Palais Liechtenstein allows these images to be used under the condition that any transcription authored based on them be forwarded to the library for their records.